A clinical neuropsychologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Douglas Terry works to alleviate the problem of concussions in pro sports. He also directs research on this matter for the National Football League and is a consultant to three Nashville teams — the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, the NHL’s Nashville Predators, and the Nashville Soccer Club.
“I’m most proud that our research at the NFL and Vanderbilt is making a real difference in people’s lives,” he says. “These studies go beyond statistics in pro sports — they’ve driven rule changes and spurred innovations in equipment that reduce concussions and improved health care practices after players sustain a concussion.”
“The greatest obstacle I’ve faced has been balancing the intensity of my career with the courage to live authentically as an out gay man,” he adds. “Both health care and sports can be demanding, conservative spaces, and for a long time, I worried that being fully myself might close doors. What helped me overcome that fear was realizing that authenticity is not a weakness — it’s a source of strength.” @vanderbilthealth
